Mattress



Nov. 12, 1963 c. o. sLEMMoNs 3,110,042

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l.illillIAlilllllllillll|lllll flllnllsllllnanfIILIII'IIILI i cof" ATTORNEY United States Patent O ce 3,119,042 MATTRESS Charles Slemmons, Altran, Ghia, assigner to The General Tire Rubber Company, a corporation of Ghia Filed dan. i5, 1962, Ser. No. t66,tl11 3 Claims. (Cl. r3-345) This invention relates generally to mattresses and more particularly to mattresses having selectable and variable surface firmness.

it is common practice to manufacture mattresses which have a single hrnrness throughout. Other mattresses have provision `for altering the rmness of the entire mattress by insertion of stilening boards of substantially the same size in area as the mattress.

lt is an object of this invention to provide a mattress having variable lirrmiess of sleeping surfaces.

it is another object of this invention to provide a mattress in which one of the variations in nmness can be achieved simply by inversion of Ithe mattress.

it is also an object of this invention to provide Va mattress in wliici there is a capability of Varying the iirmness or" the sleeping surfaces in selected localized areas.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an `embodiment of the invention showing a mattress partly in cross-section;

FlG. 2 is another embodiment of the invention showing a top-plan View of a mattress partly broken away;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the mattress taken through section 3 3 of FIG. 2;

PEG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional side view or the mattress shown in FIG. 2; Iand FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary `cross-sectional side view of another form of mattress in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings [for a more complete understanding of the invention, the mattress .2 is cornprised of a first member 4 and a second member 6, both made yfrom resilient material such, `for example, as polyurethane foam, foam rubber or the like. The members are so fabricated that the rst member is or" a dierent density and/or stiffness than the second member. Ticking 8 encloses both members and has a closure means incorporated along the length of one of its sides. In this embodiment of the invention, the closure means consists of Zipper lil. However, it should be understood that other means such as a plurality or snap fasteners or a plurality of hooks connected by lacing, for example, may be used. Individual covers i2 and 14 in FIGS. 1 through 4 may be provided for the upper and lower members respectively. These covers may be permanently stitched or sealed around the respective members 4 and 6 or slitted or zippered openings may be provided in the covers to permit them to be removed `from the members 4 or 6. ln another embodiment of the invention as shown in FiG. 5, a single cover 12 for the upper member may be provided.

A plurality of stifiening slats 16, made of some rigid material such as wood, metal, polyester resins or the like, are disposed between the upper and lower members. One of the slats is shown partially removed in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 1, the slats 16 are shown inserted between the lower surface of cover 12 and the upper surface of cover 14. In this embodiiatented Nov. i2, 1963 ment, the slats may be inserted randomly at any desired interval. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, pockets 18 are formed by lateral rows of stitches 2) connecting the upper cover 12 and lower cover le. In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 5, pockets 1S are formed by sewing pocket covers 22 to the lower surface of cover 12. Open ends of the pockets in each case face the side or" the mattress containing zipper 1t?. It should be understood that although the pockets are shown in a spaced relationship in the drawings, the pockets may be contiguous to one another forming a continuous series of pockets throughout the length of the mattress.

in use, the firmness of the mattress may initially be selected by placing the denser and/or firmer side of the mattress either on top or on the bottom 'as desired. Finrnness may then be adjusted for local areas by either insertion or removal of selected rigid slats 16 as desired. The removal or insertion of these slats is accomplished by opening Zipper 1G, removing or inserting the desired slats land then closing the Zipper.

Obviously, modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that, Within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l claim:

1. A selectable firmness mattress comprising two stacked resilient members of diiierent firmness having provision for reception of mattress firming slats therebetween, connecting means between said members, a plurality of mattress firming slats substantially narrower in width than said resilient members, the -firmness of said mattress being selectable by the reversal of said mattress from one side to the other and by the arrangement of said slats between said members.

2. A selectable firmness mattress comprising two rectangular stacked resilient members of different lirmness, a plurality of pockets laterally disposed between said members, a corresponding plurality of slats so formed as to slidably lit into said pockets, ticking enclosing said resilient members havin-g closure means disposed adjacent to the open ends of said pockets, the rmness of said mattress being selectable by the reversal of said mattress from one side to the other and by the arranging of said slats within said pockets.

3. A selectable firmness mattress comprising two rectangular stacked members composed of resilient plastic material, said members having different resilient properties from one another, a plurality of laterally disposed pockets interposed between said members, a corresponding plurality of rigid slats so formed as to slidably fit into said pockets, an enclosing ticking around said members having Zipper closure means laterally disposed on the side or" said mattress adjacent to the open ends of said pockets, the firmness of said mattress being selectable by suitable disposition of said slats Within said pockets and by reversal of said mattress from one side to the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,507,586 Berkman May 16, 1950 2,543,218 Young et al. Feb. 27, 1951 2,563,124- Maher Aug. 7, 1951 2,838,771 Goodman et al. June 17, 1958 2,878,153 Hacklander Mar. 17, 1959 2,994,266 Wertheimer July 12, 1960 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3511109042 November l2 1063 Charles O. Slemmons It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 29 line 72 for '2v99426' read j 944x266 Signed and sealed this 19th day of May 19ML (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W SWIDER EDWARD I. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A SELECTABLE FIRMNESS MATTRESS COMPRISING TWO STACKED RESILIENT MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT FIRMNESS HAVING PROVISION FOR RECEPTION OF MATTRESS FIRMING SLATS THEREBETWEEN, CONNECTING MEANS BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS, A PLURALITY OF MATTRESS FIRMING SLATS SUBSTANTIALLY NARROWER IN WIDTH THAN SAID RESILIENT MEMBERS, THE FIRMNESS OF SAID MATTRESS BEING SELECTABLE BY THE REVERSAL OF SAID MATTRESS FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER AND BY THE ARRANGEMENT OF SAID SLATS BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS. 